It sure didn't feel like it, though, after their 9-4 defeat to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday afternoon at Angel Stadium.

Knowing full well that Oakland had lost in Texas earlier in the day, opening up the possibility that the Angels could get within 1 game of the A's in the mad dash for the second and final wild-card playoff spot, the Angels instead went out and laid and egg.

Reliever Garrett Richards gave up three runs in the Mariners' four-run seventh inning, eliciting a torrent of boos from the fans on the last home game of the season. For the Angels to play another game this season in front of the home fans, they'll need to pull off something incredible over the next six days. They're 2 back with six to play, the next three coming Friday through Sunday against the Texas Rangers.

"We know what we're up against," said starter Dan Haren, who was removed after getting one out in the sixth inning, his pitch count at only 80. "This loss hurts, but you've got to shrug it off and go out and play hard tomorrow."

Haren (12-12) gave up a two-run home run to John Jaso in the fourth that put the Mariners ahead 2-1. The Angels tied it in their half of the inning on a double by Kendrys Morales, followed by a soft single from Alberto Callaspo.

Seattle broke the tie in the fifth when Casper Wells singled, went to third when Erick Aybar failed to glove a throw on a double-play turn, and scored on a force out at second. Kyle Seager then doubled, but Franklin Gutierrez was thrown out at home on a relay throw from Torii Hunter to Howie Kendrick to Chris Iannetta at home.

With the Angels clinging to a 3-2 lead in a game they had to have, Haren came out for the sixth and struck out Jesus Montero on five pitches. Angels manager Mike Scioscia then pulled Haren and put in left-hander Nick Maronde to face the lefty Jaso, who'd homered in his previous at-bat, after all.

"I think Dan got to a certain point in the game, he might have had a little bit left," Scioscia said. "But ... Jaso had some pretty good looks at him."

Haren, who takes pride in his durability, was asked whether he had anything "left in the tank" at that point. He dismissed it as "kind of a dumb question." "Of course I had some left in the tank," he said. But he added, "I understand the situation."

Maronde, who was called up from Double-A on Sept. 1, got the next two batters to fly out, but he began the seventh by giving up a single to Michael Saunders. Scioscia summoned Richards, whose last appearance was a terrific three-strikeout inning in relief of Zack Greinke on Tuesday, the game when the Angels struck out 20 to tie a major league record.

On this day, though, he wasn't the same pitcher: Wells hit a single off him, moving Saunders to third. Brendan Ryan bunted Wells to second, and the Angels decided to walk Dustin Ackley (who came in hitting .229) to set up the double-play possibility. It backfired when Trayvon Robinson, pinch-hitting for Gutierrez (who hurt his left wrist crashing into the wall in left-center while running down a Mike Trout fly ball), walked on five pitches to force home a run and extend the lead to 4-2.

Then it all came undone, and fast: Seager doubled, Montero hit a sacrifice fly for the second out, and Jaso hit a shot along the first-base line that trickled off Morales' glove for a double. That added up to a 7-2 lead and a roar of boos.

Richards has run the gamut from brilliant to shell-shocked this season, but Scioscia still expressed confidence the converted starter coming out of the bullpen.

"At times he's been terrific. I think he's done a very good job under the circumstances. And we have confidence that he can continue to help us in the role he's in right now for this year.

Related Links

Angels relief pitcher Garrett Richards is seen in the seventh inning. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Seattle Mariners' Franklin Gutierrez is tagged out at the plate by Angels catcher Chris Iannetta in the fifth inning. Gutierrez was trying to score on a double to right by the Mariners' Kyle Seager. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Seattle Mariners Franklin Gutierrez reacts after being tagged out at the plate by Angels catcher Chris Iannetta. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Seattle Mariners center fielder Franklin Gutierrez hits the wall hard as he makes a catch of a fly ball off the bat of the Angels' Mike Trout. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angels relief pitcher Garrett Richards tries to compose himself in the seventh inning against the Mariners. Richards was pulled by MIke Scioscia. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Seattle Mariners Dustin Ackley is forced out at second by Angels second baseman Howard Kendrick. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angels manager Mike Scioscia reacts in disbelief to the umpire's explanation of his call. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angels' Albert Pujols reacts as he scores on a double by Howard Kendrick in the eighth inning. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angels' Albert Pujols strokes a double to left in the eighth inning. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Angels' Albert Pujols, left, Kendrys Morales, Mark Trumbo, and Peter Bourjos, right, watch as the Mariners bat in the ninth inning. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Angels' Torii Hunter is badly fooled on a pitch in the ninth inning against the Mariners. Hunter struck out with runners on first and second. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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